Episode 1: The Anomoly
The Girls were running into their final battle haedfirst, ready to protect the Earth at all costs!
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Their enemy was a being that was a master of manipulation. They could transform their minions into objects and they could hide in plane sight before launching an attack. They had proved challenging at first, but when they started showing a pattern, the girls became more and more victorious, learning little by little about what their master wanted.
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This was the last enemy they were fated to face, so they gave it everything they had to defeat this one last enemy, before going back to a normal, non-sailor guardian lifestyle.
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They reached the enemy stronghold. It was a tall building out near the docks that didn't quite seem to fit within the landscape.
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They kicked in the front door, and battled all the way to the top, where, their leader resided.
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They were relieved to see that they had finally found the leader, but what threw their relief out of the window, was that their enemy, had chosen to create an illusion to where they looked identical to Usagi as Sailor Moon.
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They fought the boss for what felt like hours, until, it seemed like they were finally defeated.
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But to their horror, that was not the case. The leader had merely been toying with them, allowing them to attack them.
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Before the group realized it, they were outside again, and surrounded by hundreds of enemies.
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They were completely out of strength. But everyone except for Usagi had one final mission on their minds. Get Sailor Moon out of here.
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The girls fought for a bit before coming together and surrounding Usagi.
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(Usagi) Uh! What the heck guys, the enemy's behind you! Move!
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(Setsuna) I'm sorry Usagi. But you are just too important to die here.
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(Usagi) Wait! What are you saying!? We can still beat them! Come on!
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Usagi tried to move past her friends, but they wouldn't budge. But at the same time, she could feel them powering up together.
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(Usagi) Guys! What are you doing!? STOP!
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(Rei) It's no use bun head. We wouldn't be able to live with ourselves if you were to just end up dying here. We need you to live.
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(Ami) We need you... to live... as a symbol of hope! For everyone!
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(Minako) Yeah! You're the brightest person we know, and the only one who can truly defeat these things.
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(Makoto) We believe in you Usagi. We trust you with every fiber of our beings to finish the fight, for us.
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The ground began to shine with a bright light as Usagi pleaded with each one of the Sailor Guardians to let her fight with them to the end, but to no avail.
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As the chant was about to finish though, Rei was hit on her head by a blunt weapon.
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As she fell Usagi screamed her name, seeing the blood on the weapon that had hit her.
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But as Rei fell, the portal that would teleport Usagi away back home seemed to malfunction and change slightly, but she was sucked through the portal, screaming for whatever was taking her to let her go back.
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From a mixture of the stress, high emotions and visual strain, Usagi's body couldn't take any more and she fainted in transit.
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It was 1996, the girls had each just graduated. There was no more enemies for the Sailor Guardians to fight, so there was no need for them to devote time to defending the planet anymore.
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They could finally have what they've yearned for since the twins from the Mekai Tree attacked, a normal, teenage life. Full of fun and adventure, sadness and drama and all of the other things that they would sometimes miss out on since they were busy fighting anything that would threaten the Earth itself.
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After graduation, everyone went their own way educationally, but still found time to hang out together. As well as the other Guardians.
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For Usagi, she found a job working for Haruka, who had opened her own mechanics shop and could use the help of someone she was familiar with, even joking, saying that "Since you have a pretty face, the boys won't even care what I charge them, as long as they get to see you!". During her time there, she would find that she would have an interest in cars themselves, saving up to get her own.
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For Rei. she became a Shinto Priestess after Grandpa Hino had retired and passed the torch onto her, which she happily accepted. But she didn't stop there. She also did modeling jobs in the city as a side job.
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For Ami, it was obvious to everyone where she would go. She would go on to start as a apprentice to her mother at the hospital she worked at while she attended medical school to earn her degree and become a surgeon, working at the same hospital as her mother. Usagi could always remember that, no matter what happened, Ami never regretted a thing and took care of herself while she worked and went to school, for her friends and family.
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For Makoto, she started learning different martial arts and went into regional fighting tournaments before starting out as a mixed Martial Arts instructor. She loved what she did. She would joke about getting paid to kick the crap outta people, but in all honesty, she loved that people were still interested in the art of physical combat, even if they weren't going to use it outside of the dojo. She especially loved it when, one of her students would be a victim of bullying, and the rest of the class, who might barely know the kid, were ready to find and beat the bully to a pulp, but stopped when the kid would ask them politely NOT to do so.
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For Minako, she would enter contests and competitions to give her a chance to sing and dance gracefully for a crowd. After the first few, she was doubtful that it would get anywhere, but then, a major music label reached out to her and offered her a contract to make music. Usagi remembered Minako waking her up at 4 IN THE DAMN MORNING to tell her the news. Usagi was happy for her, but was a little pissed that she screamed it in her ear at four in the morning, but she would allow it, just this once.
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Haruka, as mentioned previously, opened her own garage for cars and bikes, since she knew the in's and out's of both like the back of her hand. She opened the garage as a way for her to make some extra money as she went to race events around the country and went abroad to Michiru's concerts wherever they were. She slowly taught Usagi everything she knew so that she didn't have to close the garage when she left.
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Michiru, now officially Haruka's girlfriend, traveled the world, giving everyone a chance to hear the beautiful melody that she played through her violin. She stayed in Japan as much as she could, but there were some opportunities in other countries that she just needed to take hold of. She would send Haruka a ticket every time she went out of the country, but Haruka was stubborn and would opt to pay for her ticket herself "just like everyone else". It was one thing that made Michiru laugh and love Haruka. She reminded Michiru of a stubborn old woman who wouldn't budge an inch for convenience.
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Setsuna, she would go on to climb the ladder and be the boss of her own company after quickly climbing the ranks. She was pretty busy but wouldn't mind taking a day or two off to hang out with the others if it ever came up. She was happy where she was, but felt uncomfortable with the fact that she wasn't a grunt employee anymore, she was now vital to the company, but she would much rather not think about that.
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Hotaru, living with Haruka and Michiru, she was now entering her first year of high school. Everyone was emotional at the entrance ceremony, but Usagi was the only one crying, wishing Hotaru the best of luck.
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Everyone was living what they felt was a normal life. To each of them, this is one of the millions of reasons that they protected the Earth, their Shiny blue home, with everything they ever had, even their lives.
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And... WAIT. I'm forgetting someone, Mamoru.
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Mamoru stayed in college until he graduated the same year as Usagi and the others did from Highschool. He trained at the local hispital as he went to school, and now, he was a practicing doctor at the hospital. Outside of school though, he and Usagi became an official couple. Usagi introduced him to her parents as her boyfriend. Mamoru was surprised to feel Usagi's father, Kenji Tsukino, actually hug Mamoru and thank him for being there for his daughter when he couldn't. Ikuko did the same, adding that they worried so much about her and that they were comforted by the fact that there was someone out there, watching over her when they couldn't. Heck, even Shingo took an immediate liking to him, thinking that he looked a ton like Tuxedo Mask. (Lucky guess.)
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As we begin, Usagi was driving her old, 1986 Toyota Ae86 Trueno to the shop to open up for the day, even though it was pouring rain. She had to open because Haruka was in Paris, France, going to another one of Michiru's concerts.
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Getting to the shop, Usagi turned the lights on, but didn't open the garage doors, and waited for a customer to walk in.
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Usagi looked at the small calendar that Haruka kept in the shop, seeing certain days marked as track days and one as Michiru's concert in France in either blue or red sharpie.
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(Usagi) *Sigh* She really never gets tired of going to see her girlfriend play the same pieces does she? Oh well, I guess it'll be another quiet day... Well! Don't mind if I do!
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Usagi opened one of the garage doors and parked her 86 Trueno inside. She closed the garage again and began to work on her car, like Haruka showed her. It had been making a small noise for a while now and she was going to get to the bottom of it.
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She had just opened the hood when the front door's bell chimed.
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(Usagi) Dang, well, it won't take long. COMING!
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It tall, older gentleman, wearing a black rain coat.
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(Man in A Dark Coat) Hi there, I was hoping I could get an oil change today. Would that be possible?
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(Usagi) Yeah, sure, just let me open Bay #2 and we'll get that all sorted out for you, ok?
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The man pulled his car into the spot next to Usagi's car. It was an old 1980's BMW 5 Series. Great, a brand known for their problems.
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It took over an hour, but after raising it on a lift and finding the drain plug, she was able to successfully change out the motor oil with new oil and the small job was finished.
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Usagi was walking back to the front of the shop to let the owner know that his car was done. But something was off. His demeanor had changed. When he walked in, he seemed happy to get some help with his car, but now, he was looking at something outside, nervously. But weirdly, she felt his fear, like something was about to happen to her.
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(Usagi) Hey sir, your car's done...
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(Usagi) Excuse me? Sir? Is everything okay?
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(Man in a Dark Coat) Um, miss? Does anyone else work here?
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(Usagi) Yes, that would be the owner, Haruka Tenou. Why?
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What the man said next made her feel like she was in one of those sillu horror stories made up at a sleepover, only this was real. And the man wasn't joking around
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(Man in a Coat) Did she happen to be coming in today?
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(Usagi) Sir, is there something wrong outside?
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(Man in a Dark Coat) Yes, I think there's someone lying near the road.
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(Usagi) Sir, take your car and go. I'll check up on this person to make sure they're okay. Have a good day now, and stay safe in the rain.
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As Usagi ushered the man out of the shop, she wondered to herself as she grabbed her umbrella, "What the hell is going on?"
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She walked outside and quickly 4looked around. There was someone outside, they were covered by a small jacket, but they seemed to by lying on the floor.
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(Usagi) Oh crap! Ma'am!? Ma'am!?
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Whoever it was, it seemed to be a girl, barely younger than her. Thankfully she was strong enough to princess carry her to the shop, where she laid her in a bed that Haruka had in the back of the shop.
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She had it there because whenever she got back to Tokyo, it was sometimes better to rest after the flight at the shop than her and Michiru's apartment, since it was closer.
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Usagi laid the girl down and pulled one of the heaters from the shop and put it near the bed.
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When Usagi brought the heater into the room and turned it on, she saw the girl shaking. She was awake!
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(Usagi) Oh thank the gods! Ma'am, are you okay!?
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The girl shuffled around, still not moving.
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(?) W-W-Who's THERE!?
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(Usagi) Don't worry, you're safe now. Just picked you outta the rain. You passed out on the ground and was just lying there. Good thing the only customer in here saw you, or else you might have hyperthermia.
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(?) But... Who are you?
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(Usagi) Me? I'm an employee of this Mechanic Shop, Usagi Tsukino.
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Upon telling the girl her name, the girl sat straight up, her hood falling to her back and revealing her damaged, straight, blonde hair and clearly marked injuries.
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Two eyes the same colors as hers flashed towards her, wide and narrow, the room's air changed. There was a now heavy tension in the air that Usagi immediately felt, but didn't know why.
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(?) I... I don't think I heard you correctly, would you mind saying it again.
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Usagi braced herself for some kind of violence or threat.
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(Usagi) My name, is Usagi Tsukino, I work at the mechanic shop we're inside of right now. Now, who are you?
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(?) MY name is Usagi Tsukino!
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The stranger was saying that her name was also Usagi Tsukino.
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At first, Usagi thought that this girl was probably someone with clear issues. But after looking her up and down, she thought, "Why not, theres no one here. Might as well make sure."
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(Usagi) Prove it then.
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(Usagi ?) What do you mean? Everyone knows the real identities of the Sailor Guardians! I AM SAILOR MOON, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE ASKING!?
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(Usagi) I don't know what you're talking about, but please do the one thing that I can do that almost no one knows about. If everyone knows who we are, then Usagi Tsukino shouldn't have a problem transforming into Sailor Moon, if that's what you believe, Usagi Tsukino. (Nobody ever found out who we were! That's bullshit! If anyone had revealed themselves, we would never be able to live our normal lives!)
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The girl got up, stumbling at first, but managed to stand up straight. To Usagi's surprise, she pulled out the same brooch that she used to transform. Usagi's heart dropped. Did she steal her's from her room!?
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Usagi checked for her's, one thing she took everywhere with her still, out of habit.
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She breathed out when she felt that it was still there.
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(Usagi?) MOON! PRISM... POWER! MAKE! UP!
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There was a flash of light and there she was, an eternal Sailor Moon, only her outfit, was still damaged from her recent battle. It had rips and tears, blood splatters from her friend's blood, burns and other small injuries. But before Usagi could assess the damage, the other Usagi's powers quickly dissipated and she returned to her civilian form. She was falling back on the bed as she passed out. But before she did, she had one last thing to say.
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(Usagi!) Was... That... enough for you...?
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The girl fell onto the bed, now completely exhausted of power and any energy she had conserved after she passed out in the road.
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Usagi, only now realizing she was standing, was still reeling in at the fact that there was another HER laying on the other side of the room from her.
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Who did she call first!? Rei, the spiritualist!? Ami, the partial scientist!?
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But before she could do anything, she had to try contacting Haruka. She had her on speed dial, so naturally she didn't have trouble calling her, but she was going to have to convince Haruka that there really was another one of her in the Shop...
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The dial rang for a few seconds, the Haruka picked up.
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*Click*
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(Haruka) What the hell Usagi? It's... 1 in the morning here! What is so damn important that you're calling me so early!
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(Usagi) Okay, Haruka, I barely opened the shop at 8, but something's just happened and I need to close the shop for the day.
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(Haruka) HUH!? What happened? Are you okay?
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(Usagi) Well, I don't know if you'll believe me, but... There's another me. Here. In the shop.
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(Haruka) What do you mean another you? Like... Another Usagi?
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(Usagi) YES! She justed appeared outside of the shop and-
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(Haruka) Okay, other than probably the physical features, what the hell makes you so sure that she's really another you?
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(Usagi) Haruka. She transformed into Sailor Moon right in front of me.
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Usagi heard shuffling on the other side of the phone. Then Haruka came back to the phone, now with a serious tone.
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(Haruka) She did WHAT!? Usagi, this isn't funny, you can't just call me in the middle of the night to joke about this.
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(Usagi) Haruka, I'm not joking, I told her to prove she was me, and that's what she did.
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(Haruka) Ok, when I get back, you're gonna need to show me this. But for now, you said you found that girl outside of the shop, like unconscious? I close the shop and take that girl to a hospital or something, she might be injured or something, but be careful okay, we don't know who this girl is or what she's capable of.
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(Usagi) Will do. See you soon.
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(Haruka) Yeah, stay safe Usagi.
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Usagi hung up the phone. She went back to check on the girl and she was still asleep.
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Usagi quickly fixed her car, making sure it would be as quiet as she could make it. Then, she grabbed the girl and softly placed her in the passenger seat and strapped her in a seatbelt.
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Finally, she closed the shop and took the girl to the hospital.
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Upon getting to the hospital, Usagi had the girl admitted under the same name she told Usagi.
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She called her friends and Mamoru, they had to see her for themselves.
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In the waiting room, Usagi thought to herself as they checked the girl.
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(Usagi) (This girl, as Ami would put it, is one hell of an anomaly.)
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End of Episode 1: The Anomaly.
